Why was Judas Iscariot lost and Peter saved? Judas was a gentleman; we don't read that he ever lost his temper and cursed and swore like Peter did. We don't read that Jesus ever rebuked him except that one last time when Mary washed Jesus' feet with her tears (Mark 14:4-6). It appears that the disciples all pretty well had Judas sized up to be Prime Minister of the new Kingdom soon to be started. He obviously had executive ability. (When he left the Last Supper they thought he was off to do some legitimate business, John 13:27-29.)
Is there such a big difference between betraying Jesus and denying Him with cursing and swearing that God can forgive one and not the other?
Both are devastating in self-condemnation when you realize what you have done. Some will suggest that Judas's love of money was the unforgivable part of his sin, but that would doom a lot of us because loving money is our common community sin. Both Judas and Peter were in anguish after they realized what they had done (Matt. 26:75; 27:3-5). Both "repented" (Matthew says Judas "repented himself" and with profound regret brought back his money--what more could he have done?) Could not Jesus have forgiven him?
But wait a moment: The "repentance" Judas experienced was sorrow for the consequences of his sin, and the repentance of Peter was sorrow for the sin itself (in the Greek, it's two different words for "repent"). Judas hated himself so badly that he committed suicide--don't ever do that when you realize the enormity of your sin! The right thing to do when you are convicted of your sin is not to end your physical life, but choose to die to self. Let self be "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20). It's painful, but it's healing.
Peter came within a millimeter of losing his soul forever. But he did what Jesus said to do: fall on the rock and be broken (Matt. 21:44). Judas hated the idea of self being crucified with Christ; Peter chose to love the idea. The issue is not how big is our sin; but do we choose to fall on that Rock and be "broken." When "Peter out and wept bitterly," that's what he did. He saw himself as he really was, and did not reject the conviction. God save us all!
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 18, 2002.
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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